Battle of Chupas

Battle of Chupas
Part of the Spanish conquest of Peru
Battle of Chupas
Date 16 September 1542 Location Chupas, near Huamanga, present-day Peru 13°15′14″S 74°13′32″W / 13.2539°S 74.22566°W / -13.2539; -74.22566 Result Victory for Nueva Castilla
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Nueva Castilla	Nueva Toledo Almagristas Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Cristóbal Vaca de Castro Francisco de Carvajal Alonso de Alvarado	Diego de Almagro II (POW) Gómez de Alvarado
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	At least 200 Almagristas

After the assassination of Francisco Pizarro, in retaliation for his father's execution in 1538, Diego de Almagro II, El Mozo, continued to press claims as the rightful ruler of Peru and as leader of his father's supporters. His claims were largely unsuccessful, however, as Pizarro was succeeded as governor by Cristóbal Vaca de Castro, despite claims from his brother Gonzalo Pizarro, whose claims to join arms against the Almagristas and "El Mozo" largely remained unanswered.

The battle

Desperate not to face the same fate as his father after the battle of Las Salinas, Diego de Almagro II gathered an army of supporters. Vaca de Castro met and defeated de Almagro's army outside Huamanga (Ayacucho) at Chupas, on 16 September 1542, the year following Pizarro's murder. 1200 Spaniards fought in the battle. Vaca de Castro's forces killed 200 Almagristas, and hanged many more later that day.^[1] De Almagro fled to Cuzco and tried to seek refuge at Manco Inca's residence in Vitcos. But he was caught and was executed on the city plaza of Cuzco after a brief trial.^[2]

References